Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Sunday 17th January 2016)
Do whatever He tells you!” – (John 2:1-11)
Many of us who have attended a wedding are likely to have heard the Gospel account of Jesus miraculously changing the water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana.
The Scriptures are full of wedding imagery and symbolism. God and the Chosen People of Israel in the Old Testament are sometimes symbolised as a husband and wife. Jesus likewise in the New Testament is seen as the “Spouse” married to His Bride, “The Church”. St. Paul in his letters writes about how a truly loving spouse must be willing to lay down his life for his beloved bride. This he sees Jesus fulfilling, in offering His life for His people on the Cross of Calvary.
Where would we place ourselves if we were present at the Wedding of Cana? Could we see ourselves as the bride or the groom? Would we consider inviting Jesus and Mary into our lives? Would we invite them into only the important events? Or, do we invite them into our everyday lives? Do we really trust and believe that they can intervene in our lives? Do we ask them to guide and help us not just in extraordinary events, but even in the ordinary moments as well?
Maybe we could see ourselves more like the servants at this wedding. Do we see the wine running out? What are we to do? Who do we turn to? Are we open to the advice from the Mother of Jesus? She speaks to Her Son, and He seems somewhat disinterested; yet She still tells us, “Do whatever He tells you!” Are we open to the promptings of Our Lady in our lives? Do we ever ask Our Lady to give us a docile and a humble heart like She had to God’s plans? Do we ask Our Lady for the “spiritual sight” to recognise what God’s will is for us?
So Jesus tells the servants to fill the six large stone jars with water. Do we humbly obey, filling the jars to the brim with water? We probably wonder why Jesus asked to have the jars filled with water. Is it not wine that they need, not water? Yet, why does He ask us to do this simple task? What might He be teaching us?
Is it possible that in filling the jars to the brim, He wants us to do the best we can with whatever gifts and talents we have. Is He asking us to do the best we can no matter what the situation is; a difficult or easy situation? Even the seemingly ordinary, mundane, everyday tasks done with God in mind, done with love, can have a miraculous effect. As St. Therese of Liseux would say, “To do the ordinary things in an extraordinary way”, with love was the secret of her “little way”.
Let us seek to become like the disciples. Let us recognise the ‘signs’ where God is working in our lives. Let us follow Him with faith – a faith that brings joy and hope to all we meet. Let us, “Do whatever He tells you!”
Fr. Rory Brady